Executrix



Patented Sept. 6, |898..

NU. 6|0,46l.

C. T. S-TETSON, DeCd. E. S. S-TETSDN, ExeCutrx. CIRCULAR KNITTINC MACHINE.

(Application led Oct. 5, 1896.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

-No. 6|(),46L` Patented Sept. 6, |898. C. T. STETSUN, Decd.

E. s. sTETsoN, Executrix. CIRCULAR KNITTINGMACHINE.

(Applicatiomled Oct. 5, 189B.) (No ModeLj 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

TH: Nonms Ferias co. PHoTaLITNo.. wAsmNumN. u. c.

UNTTET) STATES PATENT EErcE..

ELIZABETH s. STETSON, OE WEST nANovE'E, MASSACHUSETTS, EXECUTEIX OE CHARLES T. STETSON, DECEASED, ASSIGNOE To JAMES BENNETU EOESYTH, OE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,461, dated September 6, 1898.

Apnlication filed October 5, 1896. Serial No. 607,973. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: provement upon these patents above men- Be it known that CHARLES T. STETSON, de` tioned,'because both sets of the warp-threads ceased, late a citizen of West Hanover, in the are situated upon a stationary non-rotating county of Plymouth and State of-Massachuframe entirely above the line of vision of the setts, did invent certain new and useful Imoperator, andthe .Warp-threads are so led to 55 provements in Circular-Knitting Machines, the yknitting-'point of the machine as to be of which the following, taken in connection practically out of the line of sight of the opwith the accompanying drawings, is a specierator until they arrive directly. at the knit- Iication. ting-point. The two sets oi'zw'eft-bobbin-carto This invention relates to knitting-machines rying arms are placed one above the other in 6o for the production of tubular-knitted fabrics, I as'close proximityas is possibleand as near and is intended as an improvement upon thatv to the4 knitting-.point as is practical, so as to class of knitting-machines shown in United concentrate the movingparts of the machine States Patent N o. 430,300,patented J une 17, in as small a space as is possible and in as 1890, and which are more specifically desiglow. a position relative to the knitting-point 65 nated as complete machines which are caas is practical, so as to lower the center of pable of knitting a fabric of several plies em'- 3 gravity of the machine Without necessitating, bodying two or more sets of warp-threads as insome of the machines above referredlto, which are bound together by the loops of knit-` leading all the warp-threads through a hollow 2o ting-threads. sleeve where they are not easy of access.' 7o

In carrying out this invention a number of There is also provided an easy means of reserious faults have been avoided which apmoving the` knitting-needles from the ma-y pear in the machines shown in Patent No. chine, in lease of their becoming broken or 393,189, granted to Stowe November 20,1888; damaged, in the easiest possible manner withalso, Patent No. 537,317, granted to Stowe out disturbing the rest ofth'emachine, and 75 April 9, 1895, also, No. 130,866, granted to also a'starting, stopping, vand take-up mech- Ramsdell August 27, 1872; also, No. 246,288, anism in conjunction with the main machine, granted to Callahan August 30, 1881, and No. which is at the same time positive and effl- 430,593, granted toV Sibley J une 17 1890. In cient, and yet readily thrown in and out of opthese three latter machines, which are coneration; i' r structed upon the same general principles, The principal. features ofthis machine or the warp-holding frame is made in such a invention can best be understood by referring manner as to rotate around thevertical axis to the accompanying drawings. of the machine, which besides being dangere Figure 1 is a front elevation of a knittingous obscures the'con'centrated vision of the machine embodying the invention with the 85 operator upon the knitting-point ofth e fabric front portion of the Warp-carrying frame cutV being constructed, so.' that the knittingv is not awayion the line 1 1, so as tol more clearly properly Watched, as it should be.- The form show the guide-i-ings, the position .of the tenof construction referred to above complicates Sion Imechanism, and the leading of the warp- 40 the machine and renders its operation unthreads to the knittingpoint- Fig. 2 is a '9o steady and liable to produce a reciprocating horizontal plan, in part, of this machinewith motion, which produces an uneven and unsome of the Warp-spools left out on the leftsatisfactory waviness in the fabric being prohand side, so as to more clearly show a'plan duced. An objection is also found in Patent of the starting, stopping, and driving mech- No. 430,300 to Rhome and Herkner and No. anism. Fig. 3 is a part verticalelevation 95 393,189 to .Stowe infthat the Warp-carrying showing the knitting and weft bobbin-carryframes are so'situated as to be in the way of ing arms and guide-rings with theirsupportthe operator and Vto .prevent a clear and uning parts in elevation and a part-vertical secobstructed view of the machine. tion of the frame, needle-carrying cylinder,

This invention is intended to be an imcam-ring, knitting-needles, and knitting-cam zoo in section, all on a larger scale than that shown in Figs. l and 2.

Referring to these several figures, A2 represents the supporting-frame of the machine; A, the frame supported thereon; B, a stationary plate resting upon frame A, and b a stationary needle-carrying cylinder having a flange on its lower part by which it is fastened to the frame A and is provided with vertical grooves in which t the shanks d' of the knitting-needles a. The cam-ring O has fastened to it at the top a bevel inverted crown-gear c2, which is driven -by the bevelpinion c2, which in turn is situated on the horizontal shaft c4, on the other end of which r is placed the bevel-pinion c', which in turn receives its motion from the bevel-pinion c, which is situated on and receives its motion from the vertical driving-shaft D. The rorating of this cam-ring C serves to give the usual vertical reciprocating motion at the proper time to the needles a by means of the irregular-shaped slot 2, bounded by its upper and lower half. The warp-threads 3 and 4, which are carried upon the warp-frame F, are led down into longitudinal position parallel with the needle-cylinder b and into proper relative position to knitting needles d, by means of the guide-rings H, e, and E, which are supported on studs E2 carried by the arms E' on the main frame A of the machine.

The knitting-threads 5 and 6 and the weftthreads 7 and 8 are supported on bobbins 'i' and fi', carried by revolving arms G and G', which revolve about the central axis of the machine. Both sets of threads pass beneath the spring take-ups or tension devices g7 g8, carried by the arms G G', respectively, so that the proper tension is given to the threads as they pass to the knitting-point. It will be seen that the studs E2 are adjustable in the arms E', so that the position of the guiderings H, e, and E may be changed to vary the run of the threads which are controlled by said guide-rings in their passage to the knitting mechanism. Said studs E2 are locked in their different positions by means of the nuts e-4 e5. The guide-ring E has an adjustment independent of the adjustment just described, said second adjustment being accomplished by means of the sleeves e, which slide on the lower ends of studs E2 and support the ring E, said sleeves being held in their adjusted positions by means of the nuts e7. The arms G are driven from the vertical main driving-shaft D through the medium of the gear-wheel g, situated thereon, gear-wheel g' on the horizontal shaft g, bevel-gear g2, situated upon the other end of this shaft, and bevel-gear g3, situated upon the central vertical shaft g, while the arms G' are fastened on the upper side of the inverted bevel crowngear c3, previously referred to, and are rotated by it. The knitting-threads are guided into their proper positions by being passed through the diagonal tubes in the arms G, inside the warp guide-rin g H, then between the iiange h' of `guide-ring h and ring c. Said flange h' is fastened to and rotates with the arms G on the central shaft g5 of the machine. By this construction the knitting-'threads are brought into proper position inside of the line of warp-threads 3 4. The weft-threads 7 and 8 do not need to be so guided, as they pass directly to the knitting-point without obstruction. The warp-threads 3, which come from the line of bobbins J, pass under the guide-ringj, which is carried by warp-frame F up over the guide-ring J' through the tension devices Z over the guide-ring fm, which is carried by the tension-frame O, and, together with the warp-threads 4, under the guide-rin g fm', which is common to bot-h warp-threads, then over the guide-ring H through the eyes h2 in the guide-ring e, then through the holes in the lower guide-ring E to the knittingpoint, where they are brought into conjunction with knitting-threads 5 and 6 and weftthreads 7 and 8, and in this Way do not obstruct a proper View of the knitting-point by the operator. The warp-threads 4, which are Wound upon bobbins K, are carried up over theguide-ring lo, down through the tensiontingers Z, over the guide-ring m, under guidering m', and thence over the guide-ring H, and then through the eyes in the guide-ring e, thence through the eyes in the lower guidering E, and are thus brought down parallel and in proper relation to needles a, in conjunction wi th the knitting-threads 5 and 6 and the weft-threads 7 and S, the two knitting operations being performed at the same time at different points on the circumference of the fabric, the internal cam C for giving motion to the needles d being of the proper shape to produce two reciprocations of the needles to one complete revolution of the cam.

At the lower end of the driving-shaft D is situated the driving-stand D', having the driving-pulley d, friction-clutch mechanism d', ofany preferred construction, shaft d2, miter-gear d3, engaging with the miter-gear d4, which is keyed to the main shaft D, and

the spring d5 to pull the clutch-lever d6 back, and thus disengage the clutch mechanism d'. From the clutch-lever d, which is fulcrumed to the driving-stand D, a reach-rod '1t leads to a lever n', which is fulcrumed to the operating-stand N. On this stand is a quadrant n2, carrying a latch a5, which is provided with a spring 'n4 and foothold 01,5, which latch engages with the operating-levern' to hold it in such a position as to throw into contact the clutch mechanism d' and cause the drivingshaft D to revolve, While a pressure of the foot upon the foothold a5 causes the latch n2 to fly up and release the lever n' and disengages the clutch mechanism d', stopping the motion of the driving-shaft instantly.

Situated directly beneath the center of the knitting-point of the machine is the take-up stand T, provided with the small friction take-up rollers tand t2. Situated on the same shaft as the intermediate gear t5 is the worm- IOO IIO

wheel w, which meshes with the worm 102, which is carried on a sleeve on the take-up shaft U, to which motion is imparted by the gear a on the driving-shaft D and the gear u2, which is keyed fast to the take-up shaft U. On the sleeve carrying the worm 102 is a handwheel x, which derives its motion through the medium of the clutches and x2, which latter is keyed fast to shaft U, but has a lateral movement parallel to its axis. The two faces of the clutches and Q02 are kept in contact by means of the spring y. The shaft on which the take-up roller t is located is carried in boxes .29, which are pressed up so as to draw upon the completed fabric b v motion of the screws p2 and hand-wheel p3. The take-up stand is also provided with two longitudinal arms Q, the ends of which are hooked, so as to carry a spindle upon which the completed fabric maybe wound. Arms O' project from the opposite side of the stand T and form supports for the gears t4 t5. The operation of the devices thus described is as follows:

The knitting-bobbins i and weft-bobbins i and the warp-bobbins J and K being provided with knitting weft and warp threads, the warp-threads being led over the guide-rings and through the guide-eyes in the rings E and e and the knitting-threads led to the knitting-point, as described, motion is irnparted to the main shaft D by the belt driving the clutch-pulley d. Then by means of the mechanism described rotary motion is imparted to the bobbin-arms Gand G and a reciprocating motion to the knitting-needles Cb by means of the cam-gear c3 and the cams located inside of the cam-ring C. The needles in succession rise each in its turn. The knitting-needles d draw the knitting-threads 5 and 6 through the warp-threads 3 and 4, making loops around the Weft-threads 7 and 8, passing the end of one loop through the bight of the nextpreceding loop, thus binding the fabric together and making the well-known knitting-stitch. The continued repetition of the above operation produces a tubular fabric which as it is formed passes down through the interior of the stationary needle-cylinder Z), where it is caught between the two take-up rollers t and 252, which have a peripheral speed in such proportion to the size of the knittingthreads 5 and 6 and weft-threads 7 and 8 as to draw away the completed fabric as fast as it is made. The completed fabric after passing through these rollers t and t2 passes under them and is coiled on a spindle carried by the longitudinal arm Q. The hand-wheel fr, previously described, is to enable the taking up of the fabric to be accelerated and assisted by hand when it is desired.

Having thus fully described the construction and method of operation of this machine, what is desired to be claimed, and secured by Letters Patent is as follows:

l. In a circular-knitting machine for the production of tubular fabrics, the combination with a suitable supporting-frame, of a series of stationary warp-thread bobbins mounted on said frame, a second series of stationary warp-thread bobbins carried by said frame in close proximity to the first-mentioned warpthread bobbins, knitting mechanism comprising a cam cylinder and knitting-needles, means for rotating said cylinder, horizontal arms carried by said cylinder, weft-thread bobbins carried by said arms, so that said bobbins rotate in a plane above the knitting-point a vertical shaft depending from the top of the supporting-frame, means for rotating said shaft, horizontal arms secured to said shaft, knitting-thread bobbins carried by said arms, two arms carried by the main frame and projecting inwardly between the planes of rotation of the weft and knitting thread bobbins, vertical studs mounted in the inner ends of. said inwardly-projecting arms, and guiderings carried by said studs which control and direct the two lines of warps and the weftthreads to said knit-ting mechanism.

2. In a circular-knitting machine for the production of tubular fabrics, the combina-I tion with a suitable supporting-frame, of a series of stationary warp-thread bobbins mounted on said frame, a second series of stationary warp-thread bobbins carried by said frame in close proximity to the firstmentioned warp -thread bobbins, knitting mechanism comprising a cam-cylinderand knitting-needles, means for rotating said cylinder, horizontal arms carried by said cylinder, weft-threadV bobbins carried by said arms, so that said bobbins rotate in a plane above the knitting-point a vertical shaft depending from the top of the supportingframe, means for rotating said shaft, horizontal arms secured to said shaft, knittingthread bobbins carried by said arms, two

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arms carried by the main frame and project-A ing inwardly between the planes of rotation of the weft and knitting thread bobbins, vertical studs adj ustably mounted in the inner ends of said inwardly-projecting arms, and guide-rings carried by said studs which control and direct the two lines of warps and the weft-threads to said knitting mechanism.

3. In a circular-knitting machine for the production of tubular fabrics, the combination with a suitable supporting frame, of a series of stationary warp-thread bobbins mounted on said frame, a second series'of stationary warp-thread bobbins carried by said frame in close proximity to the firstmentioned warp-thread bobbins, knitting mechanism comprising a cam-cylinder and knitting-needles, means for rotating said cylinder, horizontal arms carried by said cylinder, weft-thread bobbins carried by said arms, so that said bobbins rotate in a plane above the knitting-point a vertical shaft depending from the top of the supportingframe, means for rotating said shaft, horizontal arms secured to said shaft, knittingthread bobbins carried by said arms, two

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arms carried by the main frame and projecting inwardly between the planes of rotation of the weft and knitting thread bobbins, vertical studs adjustably mounted in the inner ends of said inwardly-projecting arms, two guide-rings carried at the upper ends of said adjustable studs, sleeves sliding on the lower ends of said studs, a guide-ring carried by said sleeves, and nuts to hold said sleeves and ring in adjusted position.

4. In a circular-knitting machine for the production of tubular fabrics, the combination with a suitable supporting-frame, of a series of stationary warp-thread bobbins mounted on said frame, a second series of stationary warp-thread bobbins carried by said frame in close proximity to the firstmentioned warp -thread bobbins, knitting mechanism comprising a cam-cylinder and knitting-needles, means for rotating said cylinder, horizontal arms carried by said cylinder, weft-thread bobbins carried by said arms, weft-thread tension devices on said arms, so that said bobbins rotate in va plane above the knitting-point, a vertical shaft depending fromA the top of the supporting- 'j usted position.

In testimonyT whereof I, ELIZABETH S. STETSON, have signed my name to this specication, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 11th day of September, A.D. 1896.

ELIZABETH S. STETSON, Eeeutria; of the estate of Charles T. Stetson,

deceased Witnesses WM. D. HUBBAR, CHAs. W. IIowLAND. 

